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Indonesian island claims seaweed crops ruined by Montara oil spill

MARK COLVIN: For 74 days in 2009, the Montara drilling rig spilled tens of thousands of barrels of oil into Australian waters in the Timor Sea.

It was so far away from the mainland that it was hard to document independently from the sea or air - but even at the time, there were fears that the massive oil slick would hurt the people who lived on Indonesian islands closer to the spill.

Last year, the ABC reported that seaweed farmers in West Timor claimed to have been affected by the Montara oil.

The company responsible for the spill, PTTEP Australasia, has always said there was no evidence of the oil doing damage in Indonesia.

Now the Australian Lawyers' Alliance says it's obtained eyewitness accounts of oil from the Montara spill reaching one of those islands.

The interviews are featured in a short film released today.

Bridget Brennan reports.

BRIDGET BRENNAN: Farming families on Rote Island in Indonesia are some of Australia's closest neighbours. They rely on the prosperity of their seaweed crops.

Greg Phelps has visited the island's coastal communities several times, he's president of the Australian Lawyers Alliance.

GREG PHLEPS: You've got very community orientated family people, hard working; they ran hundreds of small businesses with seaweed farming and fishing. They are very sustainable citizens, they are very decent people.

(Sound of Indonesian farmers speaking)

BRIDGET BRENNAN: For the first time, Indonesian farmers on Rote Island have spoken on camera, saying oil from the Montara oil spill has ruined their seaweed crops. They're featured in a short documentary released today by the Australian Lawyers Alliance.

FARMER 1 (translated): When the water was white, the seaweed changed immediately. The seaweed immediately turned white. I felt stressed as I no longer had an income.

BRIDGET BRENNAN: Last year, the ABC's Lateline program revealed similar claims of damage caused by the oil in neighbouring West Timor. In 2009, the Montara oil platform's well head blew. The rig was inside Australian waters off the northern coast of Western Australia. It spewed oil and gas for 74 days, and the oil slick drifted across the Timor Sea. The company that owns the platform, PTTEP Australasia has always said it's seen no verifiable scientific data of the oil causing any damage in Indonesia.

Greg Phelps from the Australian Lawyers Alliance again.

GREG PHLEPS: You have many of the farmers have told us about white, waxy substances washing onto the beach, coating their boats, they talk about the stench of oil and water.

BRIDGET BRENNAN: Have these people spoken to the Indonesian government, the Australian Government or PTTEP Australasia?

GREG PHLEPS: Well they've made representations to the Australian Government through us and through their representatives in Kupang in West Timor and we've put this issue in front of the government, the Australian Government on several occasions now. The Indonesian government has written to the Australian gGovernment on several occasions, they've asked for assistance to have a scientific study conducted but the Australian Government has denied jurisdiction and just keep avoiding the issue.

BRIDGET BRENNAN: The Australian Government said though that there has been a scientific monitoring program that's overseen by the Department of Environment, was that good enough in your view?

GREG PHELPS: That was a program conducted between the oil well and the Australian coastline and we know that the oil didn't flow to the Australian coast line and that got the all clear. The Australian Government seems content to let the oil disappear north over the horizon and say well bad luck it's gone to Indonesia.

BRIDGET BRENNAN: What do these farmers want who you've spoken to? Do they want compensation or scientific monitoring program, or both?

GREG PHELPS: The first thing they want and the only thing they've ever asked for is a proper scientific investigation into what happened and they are content to let that happen and work with the data that's provided to discuss whether there should be compensation.

BRIDGET BRENNAN: A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs has told PM the Australian Government has no authority to compel companies to perform research activities in another country. The government says environmental monitoring in Indonesia is an issue for the Indonesian government and a spokesman for PTTEP says satellite imagery and aerial surveys found that the majority of oil remained in Australian waters.